Council Meeting 11-20-25

Uh, Steve, can you lead us in flag?
>> Yes.
>> Hi, how are you?
>> Attention. Salute. I pledge algiance to
the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for it stands one
nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
>> Welcome everybody to the November 20th
regularse city council meeting. Uh, roll
call, please.
Clark
>> here.
>> Evans
>> here. Ratunda
>> here.
>> White
>> here.
>> Parker
>> here. Sykes
>> not here.
>> Rose
>> here.
>> This is to advise that certain advanced
notice has been given to the date, time,
location, and to the extent known the
agenda of this meeting in accordance
with the provision of the open public
meeting act. And notice of this meeting
has been posted prominently at the
bulletin board in the municipal complex
lobby on the city's website and
communicated through the newspaper
designated by the governing body. Visit
to further advise that this meeting is
being recorded electronically and can be
viewed on the city's website at
obsecanj.gov.
Regular meeting agenda. May I hear a
motion to add resolution 203205,
a resolution of the city council of the
city of Epsein approving the sale of
certain city-owned lands to the consent
agenda?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I opposed.
>> All right. Um, couple quick tweaks, uh,
clerical tweaks. John, do you want to
>> Yeah. So, we'll just talk. Um, so for
everyone that's got the agenda in front
of you, a couple of things we're going
to be changing. Um, the agenda that you
saw that was posted indicated that uh,
ordinance 15 2025 and 162025 would be
acted on tonight. You guys already uh,
approved those previously. So, those are
not actually on the agenda. What we're
seeking to add is ordinance 17 2025 and
1820 2025. They weren't on the uh agenda
sheet, but the full body of those
ordinances were in the agenda packets.
So, as long as um a majority of those
present are okay with moving them to the
agenda tonight, we can do so. So, we
need a motion, a second, and then we
have to have a roll call. But, as long
as you guys are okay with that, we can
add them and act on.
>> So, just just to clarify, the packet you
got was correct. the packet that the
public saw was correct that of the
actual supporting documents and
everything. The titles on the actual
agenda list itself were not correct. So,
what we're asking is for a motion, a
second, and a roll call that you are
comfortable with the fact that there was
a typo on the agenda, but you had the
supporting documents you needed to be
able to vote tonight.
>> Okay. Make the motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I opposed. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Clarenda,
>> yes.
>> Write,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sturros,
>> yes.
>> Do I hear a motion for the second
reading of ordinance 17, 2022?
>> Motion. Second.
>> Roll call.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Bartender,
>> yes.
>> Write,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes. Rose,
>> yes. Ordinance 17205,
a bond ordinance providing for drainage
management improvements in the Obssein
Estates neighborhood by and in the city
of Epsein, appropriating $2 million,
therefore, and authorizing the issuance
of $2 million bonds or notes to finance
the cost thereof. May I hear a motion to
open this meeting to the public for
comment or discussion of this ordinance?
Motion. Second. All in favor?
>> I opposed.
Would anybody from the public like to
speak on this topic only?
May I hear a motion to close this uh
close the public portion?
>> Motion second.
>> All in favor?
>> I
>> opposed. May I hear a motion for the
final reading and adoption of ordinance
17205?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Artunda,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes. Parker.
>> Yes.
>> Rose,
>> yes. Ordinance 17, 2022, bond ordinance
providing for drainage management
improvements in the EPS estates
neighborhood by and in the city of
Epsein, appropriating $2 million,
therefore, and authorizing the issuance
of $2 million bonds or notes to finance
the cost thereof. This ordinance has
been heard and is finally approved.
Do I hear a motion for the second
reading of ordinance 18, 2025?
>> Motion.
>> Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Laurumba,
>> yes.
>> Light,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sir,
>> yes. Ordinance 18, 2022, amending the
code of the city of Seekin, chapter 160,
uniform construction code fees. May I
hear a motion to open the meeting to the
public for comment or discussion of this
ordinance?
>> Motion.
>> Second. All in favor? I
>> I opposed.
>> Would anybody from the public like to
comment or discuss the ordinance?
May I hear a motion to close the public
portion?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Opposed. May I hear a motion for the
final reading and adoption of ordinance
18, 2025?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Latunda,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Yes. Ordinance 1820 2025 amending the
code of the city of Epsecin chapter 160
uniform construction code fees. This
ordinance has been heard and is finally
approved.
Consent agenda. All matters listed under
item consent agenda are considered to be
routine by the city council and will be
enacted by one motion in the form
listed. There will be no separate
discussion of these items. If discussion
is desired, that item will be removed
from the consent agenda and will be
discussed separately. 200 authorizing a
refund of overpayment of taxes for the
third and fourth quarter of 2025 on the
listed properties. 201 authorizing a
refund of overpayment of taxes for the
fourth quarter of 2025 on the listed
properties.
Excuse me. 202 authorizing the tax
collector to cancel the fourth quarter
of 2025 and the first and second quarter
taxes on the property located at New
York A block 40 lot 1. 203 a resolution
of the city council of the city of
Epsecant approving the sale of certain
city-owned lands.
Do I hear a motion to open the meeting
to the public for agenda items only?
Motion second. opposed.
Are all in favor?
>> I opposed. Would anybody from the public
like to speak on these agenda items?
>> Do I hear a motion to close the meeting
to the public?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I opposed. May I hear a motion to move
the consent agenda?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes. Fireenda,
>> yes.
>> Light,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> D Rose,
>> yes. Approval of the bill list 100 1
million497,482.30.
May I hear a motion to accept the bill
list?
>> Motion. Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Larenda,
>> yes.
>> Write,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Rose,
>> yes. Approval of the minutes. Regular
meeting minutes 116 2025. May I hear a
motion to accept the minutes?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Larreta,
>> yes.
>> Light,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> D Rose,
>> yes.
>> Council reports, we'll start with you,
Councilman Larretund.
>> Uh, for economic development, uh, we're
seeing a lot of progress over at the
redevelopment site, uh, with the corner
pad, um, site. Looking forward to, um,
the progression of that. And we're still
working uh with the electric company to
get outlets installed on part of New
Jersey Avenue um to install some holiday
decor. Um and hopefully next year we'll
plan to budget for uh downtown as well
um to add outlets um to have Christmas
decorations installed as well. Uh other
than that, uh holiday season's here, so
make sure you continue to shop and
support our local businesses. That's
all.
>> Thank you, sir. Counselor,
>> uh we have not public uh safety has not
met since our last meeting. Um, but I
did talk to Roy from our um, Chief Tally
from our fire department. Um, and the
Santa in the park will be Friday,
December 5th, uh, with a reindee of
December 6th. And Santa's touring app on
the fire truck on Friday, December 12th
and Saturday, December 13th. Um,
Captain, do you have anything to add to
that?
>> Uh, we're have we're going to be
participating in the county holiday with
heroes event with the EHT pal. That'll
be on December 6th. So, we have some
children in our town and uh quite a few
officers are going to be participating.
>> Awesome. Great.
>> Anything else from you two?
>> That's it.
>> Good. Councilman Clark,
>> finance has not met this month and we
will be meeting December. We sent all of
our budgets out to all the departments
and we got them all back and we're
working on setting up for budget season
starting very soon.
>> Thank you, sir. Councilman Light, thank
you, Mr. President. We did not meet this
month, but we will meet December 1st at
5:00. And as always, um like to thank
public works for all we do here. Um as
we're getting ready to get into, uh our
wintry kind of festive season, uh leaves
being picked up. Um especially during
like this time of the year where we have
a lot of storm surges and winds. Uh just
thank them for maintaining everything to
the highest level. Um, something I would
like to point out to the public is this
Saturday we'll have the city shredding
and we'll have um a uh electronics
pickup. So, we'll try to actually do as
best as we can with the electronics and
take care of that. So, we'll be here on
Saturday. So, that's all we have. And
again, we meet December 1st here at
5:00. The public is welcome. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Uh looks like Councilwoman
stepped out. Uh, Councilwoman Parker, do
you have any uh
>> I was just going to add about the
shredding. Um, it's also a cleanup. So,
anybody who'd like to help clean up a
town or the town or the a street in
particular, we're meeting here at 9:00
and um, our recycling coordinator will
have all the supplies for that.
>> What about Christmas tree lighting?
>> Christmas tree lighting will be
>> the second Tuesday the 2nd.
>> Tuesday,
>> um, at 6:00 p.m. on New Jersey Avenue
next to Friendly Deli. Um, there will be
caroling, hot cocoa, and of course,
Santa Claus.
>> Excellent. Thank you so much. Um,
Councilman Sykes emailed me and asked to
give the whopping update of They did not
meet this month, so there is no update.
[laughter]
I have nothing on my end. So, we can you
want to do a click report?
>> Um, these are the monthly reports for
October. For the tax office, it's
$1,977.
I'm sorry, 1,977,0006624.
Construction office is 14,770.
Municipal Court, $9,642.96,
and the clerk's office is 2,652.
>> Thank you very much. Uh, Mayor Marone
was unable to make it tonight because he
is at the uh middle school. Um, so
there's dueling events and we told them
it was best to go support the children.
Uh, engineers report, Ed is not here, so
that's quick and easy. Jessica, do you
have an administrator report?
>> I do. Um, please keep an eye out for the
appropriate signage for the temporary
changes to the entrance for the ADA. Um,
we were expecting them to start this
week. U, a sign went up on the website,
but we're just awaiting finalizing the
dates. Um, leave pickup is in full
force. As Steve said, please be patient
while the public works makes their way
through all five zones. All five zones
were picked up or um were posted on the
website, but unfortunately depending on
the vehicle, depending on the weather,
he can't necessarily make it through all
five zones within a week. So, please be
patient with that. Um and just wishing
all of a happy, healthy, and safe
Thanksgiving.
>> Excellent. Thank you very much. Uh
Councilwoman, um Councilwoman Parker
gave an update on the tree lighting and
the shredding. Did you have anything
else added? If not,
>> all right. Thank you. Um, do I hear a
motion to open the meeting to the
public?
>> Motion.
>> Second. All in favor?
>> I
>> opposed. Would anybody from the public
like to come up and speak?
>> First, you can go.
>> Just uh when you come uh name and
address, sir. That's all.
>> Hello. Thank you.
>> Of course. Hey, Miss Jim. I live on
Shady Lane. Um I spoke with Tina and the
planning and zoning uh this past week
and she said right now Abseen does not
allow what's known as ADUs. I'm
wondering they're accessory dwelling
units and they're these also known as
granny uh in-law suites or granny
cottages, backyard cottages. Uh
they basically you make a phone. They're
bigger in New England. I don't know if
it was Massachusetts that started them
because of a housing crisis and Maine
quickly followed or vice versa. There
are two municipalities in New Jersey
that have gone ahead with it with or
without the state's knowledge. Uh
they're basically so this my mother
telling me she told me years ago I want
to die in my house in Cape Cod. Now
that's changed and she asked me does
Abseen know about these ADUs? So,
basically, you make a phone call, you
tell them what you want, you customize
it, uh, and it it comes, uh, just a, you
know, big finished box in the inside.
It's got the plumbing, the HVAC,
uh, the electricity, and while they're
making it in the factory, there's
another crew that comes to your backyard
and and makes the foundation and sets up
all the the boxes and the conduits and
everything else. and they come if they
can't truck it in, they pick it in, they
have a huge crane, they drop it in and
boom, it's in and they and they you
move. You're in in 7 months after you
made that call.
>> And I can't tell you the name of the
firm that's making them up in
Massachusetts.
>> So, I can talk a little bit on this if
you'd like. just there is a there are
pending legislation that's been moving
through the legislature in New Jersey to
require that municipalities allow these
accessory dwelling units. It really
hasn't gotten much steam as of yet, but
it is something that's out there for the
same reason that you mentioned earlier
really just the affordability crisis in
a lot of homes. The idea behind it, I
think though, is more geared toward
family members, which it sounds like
you're talking about because the fear
for a long time has been municipalities
will allow this to happen. You'll put a
second dwelling on your property and
then you'll just rent it out.
>> So, it's a means of income as opposed to
keeping family members that otherwise
maybe can't afford a place, giving them
somewhere to live.
>> So, there are a few towns to your to
your point that have allowed this. Right
now, in most towns, it's a use variance
because it's a second use on a single
lot.
>> Okay.
>> But some towns do allow it. They do put
some restrictions on the occupancy, but
it is it's something that's sort of
evolving in the area of land use right
now. So, it's
>> Yeah, I'm sorry. Um I was just looking
at it. I Googled and there was three
models between 17,000 and I think it was
9 or 10,000. They're not big. They're
for one or two people tops.
Um, so it's not like, you know, there's
a you can't have a family come in it,
>> a family move into your backyard. And
yeah, it would be for my mother and then
after she passes,
I don't want somebody I wouldn't rent it
out,
>> right?
>> But it would be if if and when I go to
sell,
that would be a good selling point, I
would imagine.
>> Mhm. Um, so I'm assuming um Tina told
you to come here because Tina said we
don't allow that.
>> She she said and I said, "What about
town um may I bring it up at town
council meeting?" And she says, "Yes, if
they have time."
>> Oh, we always not be able. Okay. Well,
this is my first.
>> Yeah. No, no, no. That's what we're here
for, sir. Um,
>> through zoning first. I'm sorry. I mean,
because
>> my next question. So, it would come
first if you guys were inclined to say,
"Hey, this is a good idea." Yeah,
>> you could introduce an ordinance, but
after introduction, you'd have to send
it to planning to ensure that it
complies with the master plan that it's
consistent and they'd send back a
recommendation to you guys before you
could go through a second reading and
adoption. Okay.
>> So, it is there is a a process that will
have to go to them first.
>> Does it not have to be approved by the
state before we do anything?
>> It will not. No. I mean, with the what's
pending at the state level right now
would would be a requirement on towns,
right? If they pass it, every town's
going to have to adhere to it. What you
can do now though, I mean, you still
have home rule in terms of determining
whether or not you want to allow this
type of additional use on properties.
You can act on it without their uh
consent.
>> So, what I will tell you is this is the
very first time I'm hearing of it and
I'm definitely going to do my research
and talk to council and we'll have a
constructive conversation on it. Um,
>> it sounds like it's a a lengthy process
though if we want to get this passed.
>> Yeah.
>> Even if I said tonight, let's pass this.
I just want I want to manage
expectations. That's all. Do you get
what I'm saying, sir? I'm just talking
out loud to figure out like I don't want
you to go home and be like, "Ah, it's
going to happen on Monday." Um,
>> it's an amendment to your zoning
ordinance. So, it's the typical
ordinance process with the additional
caveat of going through the planning
board to ensure consistency with your
master plan.
>> Okay. Um, I will give you my information
and then we can connect and discuss more
and then and then go from there. How
about that?
>> Okay.
Thank you.
>> Tell my family.
>> Thank you.
>> So, that has my cell phone on it and my
email if you don't mind just either
texting or emailing me tonight,
tomorrow, whenever. Just your
information and uh and then we can carry
on the conversation and if we have more
questions, we'll we'll reach out.
>> Excellent. Thank you very much. Thank
you.
>> Thank you, sir.
>> Thank you. Thank you for inquiring.
>> Anybody else from the public like to
speak?
Sir,
>> may I hear a motion to close the meeting
to the public?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor? I opposed. May I hear a
motion to adjourn this meeting? Motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor? [clears throat] I opposed.
Meeting adjourned. Thank you for coming.